=BuffsNYC;719655]Here's the thing: Mizzou isn't very good. Last season the corn, OSU, Texas, and Navy spanked them. They lost at home to Baylor-Baylor without Griffin. They won close games at home to KU and ISU. The Buffs should be in this game. I fully expect Mizzou to choke if CU is within a TD in the 4th.
I don't know where the rest of my fellow fans are..but since I like hanging with you guys...I'll answer this one.
First - Don't confused confident with distracted. The entire fan base is distracted because they have an A&M-OU-Nebraska-Tech gauntlet ahead of us and because they've won the last 3 matchups over CU something like 190-17 or something. Anyway, none of that really matters right now.
Second, you bring up the five losses from last year and that's fine. Not to make excuses, but the Nebraska game wasn't close (up 12-0 in a hurricane) when Gabbert got hurt. After that, he was in a boot cast for 3 weeks, which cost us (perhaps) games with Texas and Okie State. The Baylor game was a huge disaster, as was the Navy game. So what that usually tells us is that we are usually good for a gigantic freaking gooseegg from time to time. Will this Saturday be it? Could be. And close games with KU and Iowa State? KU is a huge rivalry game, and Iowa State was outgained nearly 2-1 while giving up 540 yards. Not sure how that is "close", but again..that's cool.
On the other hand, Mizzou has averaged 10 wins per year over the past 3 seasons, and is 34-11 since the 2006 season. Sure there have been a few eggs laid...and we've been destroyed by the Texas and Oklahoma's of the world...but Pinkel's teams tend to bury teams of mediocre or below stature. (San Diego State and Bowling Green not withstanding of course)
Finally..as for the fully expecting Mizzou to choke in a close game...you may be thinking of the 2006 team...because they have won 6 of their last 8 games in which they trailed at halftime. If anything, this team has done a LOT more to win close games than the old Brad Smith years...where everybody just closed their eyes and waited for something bad to happen.
Bottom line...Mizzou has played well in home contests like this over the years. There is a possibility of a letdown with the tough stretch that immediately follows this week. Aldon Smith is out, and Mizzou has certainly been beaten by FAR worse teams than CU could ever be. However, I think Gabbert has too many weapons to cover and the defense has improved 10 fold..especially at home, where two long BS runs from scrimmage have kept the rushing stats from being even better than they are.
CU is by far the best team Mizzou has played so far this year, and CU has shown the ability to shut down teams like OU and Georgia in the past...no reason they can't here.
I wouldn't put money on it...but it certainly could happen.